Rick Hansen’s employment agreement allows him to take a year-long, fully paid sabbatical every seven years.

Photograph by Ward Perrin

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Rick Hansen on his Man in Motion Tour.

Photograph by Ian Lindsay

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Rick Hansen, Man in Motion Tour, Great Wall of China.

Photograph by

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The front page of The Vancouver Sun on May 23, 1987 celebrates Rick Hansen’s return from his Man In Motion World Tour for spinal cord research.

Photograph by

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Sarah McLachlan performs at the 25th anniversary of Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion World Tour at Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver on May 22, 2012. Other performers included Jann Arden, the Canadian Tenors, and Marianas Trench.

Photograph by Steve Bosch

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Rick Hansen in Arizona on the Man in Motion tour.

Photograph by PNG

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Rick Hansen traverses the Okanagan in 1987 during the Man in Motion tour. As a result of this and other accomplishments, he has received many awards including a Companion of the Order of Canada and a member of the Order of British Columbia.

Photograph by Peter Battistoni

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Rick Hansen and then-mayor Gordon Campbell speak at the end of the Man in Motion tour in May 1987. By the time he rolled into BC Place, he had raised $26 million and was hailed as an international hero.

Photograph by Mark van Manen

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Rick Hansen takes to the stage during the anniversary celebrations. ‘This night would not have been possible without a dream, and of course, the courage to try, and a country that believes in me.’